The Looney Bin: A load of laughs

Headliners who have performed in top-notch locations are playing at a club near you

The Looney Bin in Travis books many of the same acts that perform in Manhattan, Atlantic City and even Las Vegas, according to owner Victor D’Arrigo — like comedian Vic DiBitetto, above.
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE/JAMIE LEE STATEN ISLAND, NY – TRAVIS — Locals looking for a good laugh can pocket the money they would use for gas and tolls to get them to comedy clubs in Manhattan or Atlantic City, or the airfare it would run to get out to the stages of Las Vegas or Chicago.

The Looney Bin in Travis books many of the same acts.

The six-month-old West Shore comedy club, owned and operated by Westerleigh resident Victor D’Arrigo, has been drawing prime comedians from across the country to its corner stage in the Showplace Entertainment Center plaza.

Just a few weeks ago, longtime Vegas entertainer Chipps Cooney opened up a Friday night show that was finished off by headliner Vic DiBitetto, fresh off a stint at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in A.C.

Cooney, seen in the movie “The Benchwarmers,” got things off to a roaring start, pulling off some faux magic tricks before kicking off his dry stand-up.

Playing the part of the crotchety old man, he got the crowd laughing with quips about pop culture. Then, he dressed as a Bronx Zoo polar bear, the “Godmother” from the movie “The Godfather” and a Chippendales’ dancer.

DiBitetto, a native Brooklynite and former Great Kills resident now living in New Jersey, had the crowd in the palm of his hand.

Knowing his audience, the straight-shooter reeled off a round of wry remarks about Staten Island Expressway traffic and its “useless” carpool lane, comparisons between the Colonnade Diner and the Woodrow Diner, the passion of Islanders to protect the parking spaces in front of their homes and the resolve of neighbors to build back-yard decks bigger and better than the next guy’s.

The experienced comic, who laughs about working as a bus driver with his wife as the matron, made a real connection with the crowd and won warm applause by evening’s end.

“I want people to see the quality of comedians we have here,” said D’Arrigo. “These are (men and women) who have headlined at the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City and played some of the biggest comedy clubs in Manhattan and beyond. I want people to know that there’s a level of quality that we won’t fall underneath.”

D’Arrigo was a regular on the city’s comedy scene for nearly two decades, starting with open-mic nights and advancing to paid gigs around town.

The Looney Bin, however, allows him the opportunity to focus on perfecting the comedy club experience for others, which is something he prides himself on.

“I just want this to be the kind of place that people are going to leave and go out to the friends and say, ‘You have to check this place out,’ “ he said. “I’m trying to build a business on making people laugh. It’s that simple.”

And with acts like the ones lined up for this weekend – Mitchell Walters, who has played nearly every major venue across the country and been featured on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, on Friday, and Buddy Flip, who has laughed it up on Comedy Central and the Howard Stern Show, on Saturday – the laughs should come naturally.

The Looney Bin comedy club, located at 141 E. Service Rd., Travis, hosts comedy shows every Friday and Saturday evening, beginning at 9 p.m. The cost is $15 with a two drink minimum. Call 718-370-6151 or visit www.TheLooneyBinComedyClub.com for more information or to book reservations.

Jamie Lee is a reporter for the Staten Island Advance. He covers the West and South Shores and may be reached at jamielee@siadvance.com.